Local News in Brief : Murderer Rejects Suit Settlement
Jeffrey MacDonald, the former Green Beret doctor convicted of killing his wife and two daughters, Thursday rejected an offer by his former mother-in-law to settle a lawsuit over money he received from the author of a book on his life.
Lawyers for MacDonald and Mildred Kassab met with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge R. William Schoettler Jr. in a closed conference but were unable to agree on a settlement.
“As of today, it’s going to trial,” William Price, Kassab’s lawyer, said outside a downtown courtroom. Price said there remains a chance the case will be settled before it goes to trial Jan. 4, but no more settlement conferences are scheduled.
Kassab proposed turning over $325,000 from MacDonald--now impounded by the court--to United Way of America to honor her slain daughter, Colette, and granddaughters, Kimberly and Kristen. They were killed in 1970 in the family apartment at Ft. Bragg, N.C.
MacDonald, who is serving three life sentences for the murders at Terminal Island Federal Prison, received the $325,000 as settlement of his suit accusing “Fatal Vision” author Joe McGinnis of writing an inaccurate book.
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